We sell olive trees (Olea europaea) as young trees, standards, bushes or as a bonsai over 2.5 metres tall. They need a sunny spot and would rather be too dry than too wet.
Buy an olive tree, a Mediterranean atmosphere in your home
Which shape to choose
A standard olive tree has a straight, bare trunk with a round crown on top. That shape suits a formal garden or a spot next to the front door, and you can plant low plants underneath. The 250 cm bush shape in a ø55 cm pot branches from the base and looks wider and more natural. The 180 cm Lorc and the 230 cm Cultivo have an older trunk with more character.
The 270 cm bonsai olive in a ø80 cm pot is the largest tree in this collection. It has a thick, twisted trunk and a crown pruned into clouds. For a balcony or a smaller patio, the 160 cm standard olive tree is more practical.
Position: as much sun as possible
An olive tree comes from the Mediterranean and wants a sunny spot. A south or west-facing patio is ideal. In the shade it grows weak and drops leaves. Indoors in the living room it is usually too dark and, in winter, too warm for an olive tree. A bright, cool conservatory or veranda does work. For that, also take a look at the veranda and conservatory plants.
Watering and winter
In a pot an olive tree needs regular watering in summer, especially in warm weather. Let the top layer of soil dry out in between and make sure excess water can drain through a hole in the pot. It does not cope well with soggy roots, especially not combined with frost.
A mature olive tree can handle light frost. In a pot the roots freeze faster than in the ground. In severe frost, wrap the pot in hessian or bubble wrap and place it against a sheltered wall. You can cover the crown with breathable fleece. Prune in spring, once the hardest frosts are over. More advice is in our olive tree care guide.
Delivery and pot
Within the Netherlands your olive tree arrives in 4 to 5 working days. Smaller olive trees come upright in a sturdy plant box, and we deliver the large sizes on a pallet. Delivery within the Netherlands is free from €75. If anything gets damaged on the way, send us a photo and we will send you a new tree free of charge. We measure height from the bottom of the pot to the tallest leaf. The tree comes in a nursery pot, and you pick a decorative pot separately.
A mature olive tree tolerates light frost well, especially when planted in the ground. In a pot it is more vulnerable, because the roots freeze faster. Wrap the pot up in severe frost and cover the crown with fleece. Also make sure the soil is not too wet in winter.
Can an olive tree live indoors?
An olive tree belongs outdoors. Indoors it is too dark and, in winter, too warm, which makes it drop leaves. A cool, bright conservatory or an unheated veranda is a good place to overwinter, though. Put it back on a sunny patio in spring.
How often should you water a potted olive tree?
In summer you often water a potted olive tree once or twice a week, more often in hot weather. Feel the soil first: if the top layer is dry, it can have some water. In winter it needs much less. Always make sure the pot has a drainage hole.
Will an olive tree produce olives in the Netherlands?
After a warm summer an olive tree sometimes flowers and small olives appear. It is rare for them to fully ripen in the Dutch climate. So buy an olive tree for its silver-green leaves and its trunk, not for the harvest.
When should you prune an olive tree?
Prune an olive tree in spring, once no more severe frost is expected. Remove dead and crossing branches and cut back long shoots to keep the crown in shape. You can trim lightly in summer. Do not prune just before winter.
How often should I water my olive tree?
A potted olive tree wants water once a week in summer and once every 2 to 3 weeks in winter. Let the potting soil dry out well between waterings. The olive tree is drought-resistant and suffers much more from too much water than too little.
Is an olive tree toxic to dogs and cats?
No, the olive tree is not toxic to dogs and cats. The tree is safe in homes with pets. The olives themselves are bitter when raw and not appealing to animals. A pet-friendly Mediterranean choice for your patio.
What is the difference between a standard, bonsai and branched olive tree?
The standard version has a straight, bare trunk and a rounded crown, perfect for a classic look. The bonsai is compact with a gnarled trunk and suitable for indoors. The branched version has natural branches from the base for a bushy shape, ideal as a hedge or a rustic ornamental tree.
How long does an olive tree live?
An olive tree can live 500 to 2,000 years, and some trees in Greece and Spain are even older. In a pot an olive tree lives 50 to 150 years with good care. That makes it one of the longest-living trees on earth.
Why is my olive tree getting yellow leaves?
Yellow leaves on an olive tree usually point to too much water or poor drainage. The plant quickly rots in potting soil that is too wet. Water less, check the drainage holes and, if needed, repot into an airy Mediterranean potting mix with sharp sand.
